Wednesday, June 06, 2007

President’s Message (June 2007)

So what’s new?.....that’s what I’ve been wondering about our next meeting. I think it will somewhat resemble the old school hot lunch menu on Fridays which was a surprise cochophony of leftover dishes we had experienced the previous week (or two?) all mixed together. If you have any suggestions for topics in future meetings bring your ideas along.

I personally appreciated getting re-acquainted with some of our “Olde Eagles” last month. We all appreciated Kevin’s account, his and Dennis Wass’s sojourn to Sun & Fun. And we should all give a special thanks to the “2-Pauls” for offering their beloved Cardinal as a sacrificial lamb on the FAA altar. As it turned out, The FAA-sent angel in human form (that being Tom Kozura) was very forgiving and no aviation sins were judged. Thank all three men for making it a great presentation.

Also, John Gill helped out topping off the meeting with a static display of his RV with some of his latest innovations with the baffling and plumbing of the engine.

We will see you June 11, if I am back from camping at Ludington S.P., as will start organizing for the Dawn Patrol Breakfast in July. Vic

-Vic Johnston

May (2007) Meeting Minutes

The regular monthly meeting of EAA Chapter 704 was held on May 14,2007 at the Sparta Paul C. Miller Airport pilot's lounge. There were 27 members and guests present.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved as corrected.

President Johnston held a discussion of old business. It was announced that Kathy Hakeem wished to resign as Young Eagles coordinator due to health problems. Glenn Holt asked to be relieved from responsibilities as Boy Scout representative also for health reasons. Replacements for both these positions are being sought.

Gary Miesch, president of Greenville Pilot’s Ass’n was present and mentioned a Young Eagles day next month at Greenville working through Kalamazoo EAA Chapter 221.

There has been an invitation to attend a pancake breakfast at Ottawa Exec Airport on 6/30/07 at 8:00 a.m.. This comes from Chet and Patti Unicapher. The cost is by donation and the money will go to the Aviation Education Scholarship fund.

President Johnston urged everyone to write to their U.S. Senators and/or Representatives to protest the FAA user fee concept.
Kevin Wheeler told of his experiences flying to Sun ‘n Fun. He said they had encountered a 52 mph tail wind on the way down resulting in over 170 mph ground speed in a Cessna Buck and a Half (150). He said the trip down took just short of 7 hours —the return run took 14 hours. He had to pay as much as $5.15 per gallon for fuel.

Several members spoke of having been to Sun ‘n Fun.

Guest speaker, Tom Kozura from the FAA, conducted a typical Ramp Check on one of the member’s airplanes and described the various things the inspector would be looking for. We then visited The John Gill hangar to look over John’s RV project which is coming along very nicely.

Meeting Adjourned

Jay Dean Sec/Treas EAA Chapter 704

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Blue Mountain EAA Chapter 604
By - Don Bais (Courtesy of The Rite Flyer)

It’s that fabulous time of year again when spring is in the air, be it a mite cool just yet, but rest assured it will come. When the weather begins to warm a little, our aviator minds turn to flights of fancy and it’s time to get our birds out of the nest and ready to go.

Strange things happen to our birds during the time they are asleep for the winter. Moisture can form in the fuel tanks, tire pressure seems to drop, and all that dust we need to get rid of! The brake disks get rusty and the battery may be down. And then there are those various critters that can invade our planes, be they parked inside or out. Birds and mice love to make our planes their homes. Mud dobbers love to make their little mud houses on our engine cylinders and create those nasty little hot spots if we don’t find them and remove them.

We purchased our Comanche in early May of 1983. We didn’t have a hangar yet so it was parked outside. We hadn’t flown for a couple of weeks and when we went out to fly I did the usual pre-flight list checks, got in, and cranked up. We were cleared for taxi to runway 14 for departure, did our run-up and were cleared by the tower for departure.

It was a bit cool so Alyce pulled the cabin heat on. As we began our climb out something started to smell hot. It wasn’t an electrical or oil smell and there was no smoke but something was hot. I called the tower and got a short close pattern for landing. We taxied off the active and stopped in a safe place. I opened up the cowling and began to investigate. Upon close examination, I could see insect legs sticking out of the shroud around the exhaust that provides cabin heat. I took a screw driver and proceeded to remove the shroud and wouldn’t you know it – that shroud was occupied by about a quart jar full of yellow jackets. Fortunately, they were pretty disabled but still moving slowly about. I still don’t know why we didn’t get a surprise in the cockpit, but not one yellow jacket came through.

EAA SHARED ARTICLE

YOUNG EAGLE BECOMES YOUNG PILOT

By - Bruce St. Onge, EAA Chapter 439

My very first Young Eagles airplane ride was at Ford Airport about six years ago. The pilot did a very steep bank on my side and I thought to myself, “I’m not liking this…” A few years later I decided I would give it another shot, so I went to the 2004 Ford Airport Day for another Young Eagles ride. During the taxi, run-up, takeoff, cruise, and landing I was continually asking the pilot questions. When we got done, I thought to myself, “I like this stuff.” A couple years passed and Tom Sullivan invited me along with him to an EAA Chapter 439 meeting at NMU Aviation College. We took his Mooney Rocket.

We took off into an overcast layer. When we broke out above the clouds I could see the sun just coming up in the morning and it was “so sweet.” When Dave was giving us a tour around the college aviation shop I saw this huge set of Boeing wheels. I asked, “where did you get those?!” and Dave said that they were there prior to his working there. I still want them.

When I was at the Christmas party last year, Tom said he would talk to Terry to see what the costs are for learning to fly. Later that night Terry talked with me about the rates and suggested I save up the money, then do it. I told him I already have the money saved up and he replied, “YOU DO?” He could not believe it. He commented that usually kids my age (17) get their paycheck and spend it all. He said, “I’m proud of you for saving your money.”

Tom and Terry said to contact Kubick Aviation to see if he had gotten a training airplane yet. I went home that night, excited to start my training. I asked Chad Kubick of Kubick Aviation, “who teaches?” He mentioned an instructor, Mike Jensen, a C.S.A. Air pilot, and I gave him a call. My training started with my very first lesson on March 10, 2006.

Mike said to use one hand on the yoke. I did not like using one hand, but I got used to that after a little bit. After a few lessons we did my first stall. I started to yell and looked to hang on to anything I could, but there’s really nothing to hold onto in a 150. Mike said, “I guess you don’t like stalling” and I said “YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.”

I started to bring my ground school manuals to school so I could study during any open time I had. That annoyed one specific teacher, and she made me put them in my locker. One of my friends asked her why she was giving me a hard time about the books and she said “He will never become a pilot.” I thought, “Ok, she will see, that’s even a better reason to finish this.” When someone says I can’t do it, I become more motivated.

I started to help Tom with his plane in January of 2006, showing up almost every night around 7PM. I learned a lot about planes by helping Tom work on his. I found that you’re putting your life at risk with some awfully small hardware, like the four bolts that hold the engine mount on the fuselage. Tom said he would pay me an hourly rate (after getting up to speed) for helping him with the Lancair but I replied “no, I like doing this.” Tom came back with “OK, I will apply that money to flight time for getting your license.” I didn’t argue.

I met this guy, Bruce, in Chad’s hangar while waiting for my instructor, Mike. He asked how I became interested. I told him about my connection with Tom. Later that evening I was cleaning my room and found an EAA Young Eagles flight certificate that was signed by Bruce Rutter in 2004. I thought “wow!”

I first soloed on June 22nd, 2006. I was not nervous about the flight, but was nervous about the people on the ground observing my crappie landing. I did three touch and go’s. About a month later Mike and I were doing some ground work and he informed me that I would need to find a new instructor – he was being transferred to somewhere near Beaver Island. I flew with him another week and before he left, Mike signed my logbook to take the written exam. I scheduled the exam, passed the written and was ready for my next challenge.

About this same time I was getting ready to go to Oshkosh with Tom. I had never been there before; it was so cool. I will never forget that experience. I was also introduced to a new flight instructor while I was there, Dean Sledge.

When we came back from Oshkosh, Dean and I started to fly. We went on a couple cross-country flights. He signed me off for my first “solo” short cross-country flight; IMT-50D-SAW-ESC-IMT. After another dual cross-country with Dean, he signed me off for my long cross-country IMT-MFI-CWA-RHI-IMT. That was a long trip, taking about three and a half hours in a little 150.

Dean started to hound me even more to study the books (Tom had warned me, that as I got closer to the check ride, my instructor would get tougher.) The weather during this time was crap, it took us about a month to complete three hours of flying. Dean scheduled my private pilot check ride with Duffy in Marshfield for December 19th.

We arrived at Marshfield and Duffy was running about an hour late. All I was doing was pacing back and forth, back and forth. Dean said to sit down and relax. Well I was able to sit down for about 30 seconds only. Duffy came in and I sat next to him. Dean said to Duffy, “do you have any nerve pills for him?” He said, “We’re not going to get nervous, OK?”

Everything went well for the oral part. Nerve-racking though it was. The flying part was easy, but still nerve-racking. Duffy got out of the airplane, signed some papers and said, “Congratulations, you’ve earned it. I like seeing young people like yourself getting involved in aviation. It’s people like you that keep aviation running. We need more young people like you.” When I got back, everyone was saying “good job” and “congrats.”

It was never easy, and you get your share of nagging (and encouragement) from the instructors and fellow pilots to study. I can say now, it was well worth it. December 19th of 2006 was one of the most important days of my life.

EAA SHARED ARTICLE

RESERVE LIFT GAGE (AOA) KIT

Dear Fellow EAA Member,
My name is Kelly Meiste, I’m an EAA member (#623517) living in northern Illinois.

I’m currently flying the Zenith Zodiac 601 that my son & I built back in 2002.

The reason I’m writing you is to ask if you would take the time to notify your club members of the Reserve Lift Gage (or Angle of Attack) that I manufacture.

I originally fabricated a gage to use only on my plane. It worked so well that others have asked me to build one for them as well. It’s now turned into a part time job, and as I’m hoping to retire soon I’m now looking into building these kits full time.

My kit is priced at less than half the cost of the cheapest I’ve seen, so I believe it’s a good value for the money. It comes complete and ready to install in most any aircraft. Installation is fast and easy, normally only a few hours of your time will do it.

If someone would require a custom mounting bracket, or plate, I can build the one as required at little additional cost.

Please pass the attached poster around to your members, and have them contact me anytime if the would like to purchase a kit or just ask questions.

Thank you very much for your time!
Sincerely,
Kelly Meiste, EAA #623517

RESERVE LIFT GAGE (AOA) KIT
COMPLETE & READY TO INSTALL IN NEW OR CURRENTLY FLYING AIRCRAFT

• AERODYNAMICALLY SHAPED PROBE AND MOUNTING BRACKETS MACHINED FROM 6061 ALUMINUM (CUSTOM MOUNTS AVAILABLE).

• 2" DIAMETER EASY TO READ GAGE WITH MOUNTING BRACKET, OR SIMPLY INSTALL ABOVE YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR BEST VIEW DURING TAKE OFF AND LANDINGS.

• SUPPLIED WITH 33’ OF PROBE TO GAGE RIGID VINYL TUBING.

• “AN” HARDWARE, AND TUBING FITTINGS INCLUDED.

• VERY EASY INSTALLATION.

• COST IS ONLY $175 PLUS $15 S&H.
(LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE KITS)

CONTACT: KELLY MEISTE (EAA MEMBER 623517)
PHONE: (815) 684-9922
EMAIL: kellymeiste@jcwifi.com

YES THIS GAGE IS IN MY PLANE, ONCE YOU
USE ONE YOU WOULD NEVER WANT TO
FLY AGAIN WITHOUT IT.